Where to go South Island?
The South Island is defined by the Southern Alps, a 279 mile vertical range towering at up to 12,000’ and snow-capped all year. They were the frequent backdrop for the Lord of the Rings trilogy, and one of the few places you can park your car and walk right up to a glacier.
The main touring route begins at the ferry terminal at Picton, and runs first through the Marlborough wine region and down the coast to Kaikoura, which loosely translated means to eat lobster, which are in abundance here. Turning inland, the highway continues through beech forest and farmland until it reaches Christchurch, and from there up and over the Southern Alps at Arthur's Pass. Then south along the wild West Coast, through Franz and Fox Glaciers, and finally back over the Southern Alps at Haast and into Lake Wanaka and ending in Queenstown. That's a spectactular 3-5 day drive that only gets better the further you go.
The main touring route begins at the ferry terminal at Picton, and runs first through the Marlborough wine region and down the coast to Kaikoura, which loosely translated means to eat lobster, which are in abundance here. Turning inland, the highway continues through beech forest and farmland until it reaches Christchurch, and from there up and over the Southern Alps at Arthur's Pass. Then south along the wild West Coast, through Franz and Fox Glaciers, and finally back over the Southern Alps at Haast and into Lake Wanaka and ending in Queenstown. That's a spectactular 3-5 day drive that only gets better the further you go.
Nelson/Marlborough
Nelson is an art city and achieves more sunny days per year than anywhere else in NZ and is the gateway to the Abel Tasman Park. Marlborough is the largest export wine producing area of NZ, and also where the world famous Green Lipped Mussels are farmed. The best way to arrive on the South Island is on the Wellington Ferry which arrives at Picton, just to the north.
Canterbury and Kaikoura
Its capital city is Christchurch, devastated by last year’s earthquakes, but still a natural stopping point on the main touring route. Canterbury includes Kaikoura as well, one of the few places in the world where you can always see whales and experience dolphins up close and personal. In between is Hamner Springs, a great place for a soak in a natural hot springs.
Wild West Coast
Framed by the wild Tasman Sea to the west, and the nearby Southern Alps to the east, a drive along the West Coast is a great way to connect Christchurch to Queenstown. Stop in Hokitika for lunch and stroll through one of the jade factories there, check out the many lakes along the way, but absolutely do not miss a visit to Fox Glacier.
Southern Lakes
While Queenstown is Adrenaline Central with AJ Hackett’s original bungy, the Shotover River Jet, the gateway to Milford Sound, and the spectacular wines of Central Otago; Lake Wanaka is just as pretty without the crowds. No trip to NZ is complete without a stay here.
Dunedin
A college town and the most Scottish city in NZ; a great place to see penguins, albatrosses, and fur seals up close. And don’t miss the Speight’s Brewery Tour, nor Larnach Castle.